Sunrise: David 'Kochie' Koch ambulance interview with injured miner in 2006 trends now The forgotten moment David 'Kochie' Koch became a TV superstar: How Sunrise host risked it all with shock ambulance interview 17 years ago By Monique Friedlander For Daily Mail Australia Published: 00:02 BST, 7 June 2023 | Updated: 00:02 BST, 7 June 2023 Viewcomments Footage has resurfaced of the moment David 'Kochie' Koch solidified his position as the king of breakfast television, as he prepares to farewell Sunrise. While the 67-year-old conducted hundreds of interviews during his 21 years at the helm of Sunrise, it was a risky interview in the back of an ambulance that put Kochie's career o the map. In April 2006, Kochie and his then co-host Mel Doyle were stationed at the Tasmanian town of Beaconsfield to report on a collapsed mine that had left one miner dead and seventeen trapped underground. The Sunrise hosts were competing with numerous other news outlets at the scene of the disaster, but Kochie managed to get the scoop of the century after he jumped into the back of an ambulance to interview injured miner Todd Russell. Kochie crashed through the security cordon and jumped into the vehicle after being invited inside by the Russell, who was a big fan of Sunrise. Footage has resurfaced of the moment David 'Kochie' Koch, 61, (pictured) solidified his position as the king of breakfast television, as he prepares to farewell Sunrise after 21 years at the helm 'So, I got into the ambulance and that's when he gave me his miners tag, which is a moment, I got to say, a moment and a symbol I will cherish forever,' David told the ABC later. 'And I make no apologies for doing it.' Reflecting on incident on Sunrise in 2017, Kochie described his interview with Russell as 'touch-and-go'. In April 2006, Kochie and his then co-host Mel Doyle (left) were stationed at the Tasmanian town of Beaconsfield to report on a collapsed mine that had left one miner dead and seventeen trapped underground The Sunrise hosts were competing with numerous other news outlets at the scene of the disaster, but Kochie managed to get the scoop of the century after he jumped into the back of an ambulance to interview injured miner Todd Russell. (Kochie is pictured in the ambulance) 'Todd says he wants that 'big, fun, son of a 'b', Koch, at the gate' when they come out in the ambulance,' he recalled 'It was one of the most memorable [interviews] because of that connection,' Kochie added. Kochie announced earlier this month that he would be leaving Sunrise to pursue his own businesses and spend more time with his family. He will be replaced by former Olympic sprinter Matt Shirvington, who has spent the past two years waiting in the wings as Sydney's weekend sports presenter. Kochie announced earlier this month that he would be leaving Sunrise to pursue his own businesses and spend more time with his family. (Pictured with co-host Natalie Barr( Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility